Touring Springboks remain winless

The Springboks slumped to their third straight loss on their November tour on Tuesday, going down 24-23 to Saracens at Wembley.

The Springboks slumped to their third straight loss on their November tour of Europe on Tuesday, going down 24-23 to Saracens at Wembley.

The tourists led 18-6 at the break, but a strong second half and a late drop goal from former Bok fly-half Derick Hougaard earned the English club an historic victory.

There's something about the ingredients for a midweek touring fixture that often results in a game of spice, flavour and heady texture. Perhaps it's the freedom both sides enjoy, perhaps it's the fact there's reputations, but not points to play for.

Whatever it is, tonight's inaugural Investec Shoot Out Challenge provided a spectacle of skill, pace and power that should convert many a floating fan.

The 46,000 that braved the rush-hour trek across a packed North London were treated to wonderfully open game of flowing rugby from both sides, with the grace and calmness of Ruan Pienaar and the power and bulk of Andries Bekker dominating the early proceedings.

After an exchange of early penalties, which saw the visitors leading 6-3, a sublime blindside move – started in by the Boks in their own 22 by the impressive Juan de Jongh and almost finished by the man mountain Bekker at the other end after a 60m sprint – should have resulted in the opening try.

But wing Noah Cato's try-saving effort in the corner showed determination beyond his 80kgs, and on reflection, Bekker will bitterly disappointed with his finishing.

The first try of the night was not far from coming however, and a fitting score it was as the omnipotent Bekker drove down the blindside from a ruck to commit the Saracens defence.

This allowed captain Dewald Potgieter to break back down the openside, before Pienaar spun a sublime skip pass to set up De Jongh who stepped back in through the feeble tackles of Cato and centre Kameli Ratavou to touch down for a score of high quality.

The second try followed soon after, as Pienaar launched a Garryowen that threatened to split Lord Foster's iconic arch, bounced off full-back Michael Horak's arm into the hands of winger Jongi Nokwe who sped over for a gifted try.

Saracens' successful penalty kick just before half-time was nothing but a precursor for what has to go down as the goal kick of the season.

With Investec promoting the game, a purse of £250,000 was on offer for any spectator who could hit the crossbar with a kick from the 40m mark.

As luck would have it – and showing rather more skill than displayed by any Englishman at Twickenham so far this season – young Stuart Tinner picked up the ball, and with more of a hoof than an educated punt… hit the crossbar with the his first attempt of the night leaving the sponsors some 1/4 of a million down!

With a distinct case of 'follow that', Sarries' second-half effort started rather better than their first as South Africa, defending a scrum in their own 22, elected to clear through their replacement scrum half Francois Hougaard. A marauding Ernst Joubert charged down the kick and followed through to score in the corner. 11-18 to South Africa.

And more was soon to come.

With the Boks defending their own line again, a massive scrum effort by the Saracens pack put South Africa on the backfoot, and a simple pass back into the fly-half channel allowed Brad Barritt to drive through the visitors' midfield to level the scores at 18-18 with Hougaard's conversion.

With belief in their bones and with ascendancy in the scrum, the Sarries' forwards caused headaches for the much-vaunted Springbok scrum and the home side were unlucky not to go ahead in the 61st minute when Hougaard missed a simple penalty from 30m out.

However, World Champions don't become world champions without huge ability and self belief. As Saracens fluffed a line-out in their own 22, a sweeping move across the field allowed replacement hooker Bandise Maku and scrum-half Heinie Adams to combine to send Nokwe over for his second – and brilliantly worked – converted try.

With Sarries pressing and refusing to capitulate to the Springbok brilliance, a well-worked miss move saw flank Jean Deysel off his feet at rucktime, leaving Hougaard the simplest of penalties moving into the last ten minutes of the game.

With seven minutes remaining, Saracens drove hard in the Springbok midfield allowing the power of Wikus van Heerden to wear down the South African defence. Hougaard slotted the simplest of drop goals from 35m out to seal what was the most historic of wins for a Saracens side going from strength to strength this season.

In the final analysis however, this game was about more than just the result- it was about entertainment, fun and it was about quality.

As the great Willie John McBride once said: “Of course it matters greatly who's GOING to win, but it matters not at all who's won.”

A great game, a fabulous day and a wonderful advertisment for rugby.

Man of the match: With Jongi Nokwe running in two tries and Andries Bekker showing form to push the venerable Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, South Africa need not worry; however, with a famous home win it would be churlish not to give it to a Saracen and our choice is Derek Hougaard for his points and direction.

The scorers:

For Saracens:
Tries: Joubert, Barritt
Con: Hougaard
Pens: Hougaard 3
Drop: Hougaard

For South Africa:
Tries: De Jongh, Nokwe 2
Con: Pienaar
Pens: Pienaar 2

Saracens: 15 Michael Horak, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Melck, 6 Wikus van Heerden (c), 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Richard Skuse, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 George Kruis, 19 Andy Saull, 20 Kevin Barrett, 21 Alex Goode, 22 Rodd Penney.

South Africa: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Dewald Potgieter (c), 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
<Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Rob Debney (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Brian Abrahams (England)